Before You Get Started in Tokyo

There are about a dozen of different tourist passes, tickets and cards available in Tokyo. However, most of them are overpriced and don’t work on all of the city’s subway, train and bus lines.

Introduced below are the two transport cards and two most useful tourist passes.

SUICA AND PASMO CARDS

There are two types of transport cards in Tokyo: SUICA and PASMO, which are belongs to two different companies but have same functions. Both can be bought at the airport as well as subway and train stations.

The initial purchase of both SUICA and PASMO ranges from 1,000 yen ($9.54) to 10,000 yen ($95), both can be used on all subways, trains and buses, and both include a 500 yen ($4.82) deposit that will be refunded when the card is returned.

The remaining amount from the deposit can be immediately used for rides around the city and you can easily load your card up with more money via card vending machines at subway and train stations.

Although neither SUICA nor PASMO give you any discounts, they give you convenience while getting around in Tokyo, compared to single ride tickets, as all you have to do to access stations is to simply swipe the card over a card reader.

TOURIST PASSES There are also two types of passes that are helpful and cost-effective if you’re planning to use Tokyo’s public transportation a lot in one or two days.

– Tokyo Furii Kippu (aka Tokyo Tour Ticket), which costs 1,590 yen ($15.32), gives you unlimited access to all Tokyo’s subway lines operated by Toei and Tokyo Metro as well as all JR trains for one day. Bonus: it can also be used on Toei’s buses and streetcars.

– Tokyo Subway Ticket, which costs 800 yen ($7.71), gives you unlimited access to all Tokyo’s subway lines operated by Toei and Tokyo Metro for 24 hours, but isn’t valid on JR trains. 48-hour and 72-hour tickets are also available at 1,200 yen ($11.49) and 1,500 yen ($14.36) respectively.

Other day passes and tickets available in Tokyo provide you with 24-hour unlimited use on only certain subway, train and bus lines, which is why we don’t recommend them for travelers.

COIN-OPERATED LUGGAGE LOCKERS

(Image credit: Vantey)

If you’re a traveler visiting Tokyo with tons of luggage (or even a small backpack) and you want to travel light around the city, there is a great option for you: coin-operated luggage lockers.

You can find those convenient and affordable boxes at every train station and at some malls, stores and even tourist attractions.

Prices for renting a luggage locker range from 100 yen ($0.96) to 500 yen ($4.82) per day, depending on the size of the locker. Small 100-yen lockers are best suited for one or two small luggage pieces, while the big 500-yen locker can fit a medium-sized suitcase.

1. Tokyo Rail and Subway

Image credit: akulamatiau

Tokyo has one of the most dense and sophisticated mass transit systems in the world. And while this system may be confusing for tourists, it’s still one of the most efficient ways to get around in Tokyo.

In fact, buses in Tokyo are even more confusing than trains, especially if you don’t know Japanese. So taking a train or subway is the faster and easier way to reach any destination in Tokyo.

Don’t be surprised when you see about a dozen of white-gloved ‘pushers’ (oshiya–train station assistant), who squeeze passengers into train cars during rush hours.

While it may seem a little wild for most foreigners, Tokyo residents don’t mind being squeezed into train cars.

Tokyo’s mass transit system can be broken down into three parts:

JR East rail network, which has 28 lines and its 5 main lines include – Yamanote loop (light green) goes around central Tokyo — read below for more info about this line – Chuo (orange) and Sobu (yellow) go east and west – Saikyo (dark green) and Keihin-Tohoku (blue) run north and south

Subway – run by two operators: Tokyo Metro (has nine lines) and Toei (has four lines). Both are useful to get around the city and well connected with the Yamanote loop.

Private rail – about a dozen private rail lines that run into the outlying suburbs.

JR Yamanote Loop JR Yamanote loop line is the most important and most used line in Tokyo. The line runs in a circle and connects the city’s major centers.

The line has 29 stations, but the most popular ones are:

Shinjuku – sits right in the center of the huge Shinjuku business, entertainment and shopping district

Harajuku – is home to the favorite Harajuku shopping and entertainment district of teenagers

Harajuku – is located in the large Harajuku shopping and business district, which is also loved by young people and teenagers

Shinagawa – is the closest JR station to reach Sengakuji Temple. The station also connects central Tokyo with Haneda Airport via Keikyu Railways.

Hamamatsucho – is the closest JR station to reach the Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple. The station also connects central Tokyo with Haneda Airport via Tokyo Monorail.

Yurakucho – is the closest JR station to the Ginza shopping and entertainment district

Tokyo – is home to the famous Marunouchi business district, and is the terminal station of all high-speed railway lines in Tokyo

Nippori – provides a connection to and from Narita Airport via the Keisei trains

Ikebukuro – is home to one of the biggest shopping and entertainment districts in Tokyo

Notes– If you’re planning to travel around Tokyo a lot using trains and subways in a few days, consider purchasing one of day passes or tickets mentioned in our BEFORE YOU GET STARTED IN TOKYO section above. – See full subway and train map here

2. Tokyo Public Buses

Image credit: ponsulak

Using a bus to get around in Tokyo is not as practical as using trains and subways for a number of reasons:

buses are less frequent than trains

buses are slower than trains

it’s easy to get confused with all the routes

it’s difficult to get to your destination if you don’t know Japanese, since most signs are in Japanese

However, buses in Tokyo are useful for their north-south routes on the western side of Tokyo, where trains mostly run east-west.

Just like trains and subways, buses tend to get crowded during rush hours, but there are no pushers (who squeeze you into buses).

Bus hours: 07:00 – 23:00 daily, but there are also night buses on some routes

Bus fares: Most local buses in Tokyo charge a flat fee of 210 yen ($1.92) for a ride

Notes– Pay upon boarding the bus. Most buses accept SUICA and PASMO cards. – Most buses have priority seats for the pregnant, elderly, disabled, injured as well as people with small kids – In order to get off at your stop, push a button on the side of the door or ceiling

3. Tokyo Streetcars

Image credit: yokokenchan

There are two streetcar (also known as tram) lines in Tokyo, in which the more popular one is Toden Arakawa Line, running through northern and eastern Tokyo outside the main tourist areas. There are 30 stops along its route, from Waseda to Minowabashi and vice versa.

Although you won’t get far using a streetcar in Tokyo, it’s still a fun way to reach some of the city’s crucial parts:

get off at the terminus at Minowabashi to reach Edo’s red-light district Yoshiwara

get off at Machiya-ekimae to transfer to railway’s Keisei Main Line

get off at Ōji-ekimae to transfer to JR’s Keihin-Tōhoku Line

get off at Ōtsuka-Ekimae to transfer to JR’s Yamanote Line

Streetcar hours: 05:40 – 23:00 daily

Streetcar schedule: Every 7 minutes during rush hours; every 10 to 15 minutes during off-rush hours

Streetcar fares: Flat fare 170 yen ($1.64) regardless of distance for one ride, and 400 yen ($3.82) for the one-day economy pass, which allows unlimited use of the streetcar for one day

Paying streetcar fares– Buy the ticket (one-use or one-day ticket) on the streetcar from a conductor when you get on the streetcar for the first time – If you have the one-day ticket, every time you get on the streetcar, all you have to do is just show the ticket to the conductor

4. Tokyo Taxis

Image credit: Richard Schneider

Taking a taxi ride to get around in Tokyo is very expensive but it can be convenient if you’re traveling with a group of friends or your family.

It’s actually the most expensive way to get around in Tokyo and can be useful only to those who don’t want to waste their time figuring out how other modes of public transportation in Tokyo work.

For example, a simple 8km ride from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku would cost you about 3,000 yen ($27.44) using a taxi, while you’d pay only 200 yen ($1.93) for the same trip using a JR train or subway.

Most taxi drivers in Tokyo don’t speak English, so it’s recommended to have your destination written in Japanese on a piece of paper.

Taxi hours: 24 hours

Taxi fares: Start at 730 yen ($7) for the first 2 km and add up as you go (90 yen, $0.87 per every subsequent 280 m)

Notes– Fares increase by 20% in the period between 22:00 and 05:00 – Tokyo’s taxi rear left passenger doors are automatically operated by the driver, so you don’t need to open or close them by yourself

5. Tokyo Waterbus Ferries

Image credit: Tokyo Cruise Ship

Tokyo Cruise Ship operates a number of water bus ferries along the Sumida River and in Tokyo Bay, connecting Asakusa, Hinode, Harumi and Odaiba.

Taking a water bus ferry is definitely not a practical way to get around in Tokyo, but nonetheless it’s a great way to explore Tokyo’s mesmerizing waterfront areas.

Each ferry is equipped with English and Japanese tour announcements. It’s a must to take a ride on the super-futuristic Himiko ferry (see above photo), which was designed by manga and anime creator Leiji Matsumoto.

Waterbus hours: 09:50 – 18:40 daily (some routes finish earlier)

Waterbus schedule: Every 15 to 45 minutes

Waterbus fares: Start at 780 yen ($7.5)

Notes – You can find the Himiko ferry on the Asakusa-Odaiba and Asakusa-Toyosu routes – To check waterbus timetable and fares, follow this link

6. Tokyo Hop On Hop Off Bus

Image credit: Sky Bus Tokyo

Tokyo has two types of Hop On Hop Off Buses: Sky Hop Bus and Sky Bus Tokyo, both operated by Skybus company.

Sky Hop Bus offers sightseeing trips with multiple stops along the way and has three courses:

Asakusa – TOKYO SKYTREE course

Odaiba course

Roppongi – Odaiba course

Sky Bus Tokyo, meanwhile, makes no stops along the way and all sightseeing is conducted from within the bus.

You can get your Hop On Hop Off Bus ticket at Marunouchi Mitsubishi building, which is just a 1 minute walk from Tokyo Station.

7. Mount Takao Cable Car & Chair Lift

Image credit: suchi187

Mount Takao (Takaosan) is a wonderful natural recreation area that isn’t far away from central Tokyo. Every traveler coming to Tokyo must visit Mount Takao to explore the beautiful scenery and take a ride on the cable car or chair lift.

There are two ways to get to Mount Takao: by a cable car or chair lift. The entrances to both are located close together and can be accessed at Takaosanguchi rail station (Keio Takao Line).